Veterans Bills Advance

posted by Chris Hagenow | 777.80pc
March 28, 2014

As we continue to move toward the conclusion of this year’s legislative session, the House continues to work on several bills related to helping Iowa veterans through the Governor’s Home Base Iowa plan. The overall goal of this group of legislation is to attract veterans to Iowa after their military service ends, and ensure they have the opportunities they need to be successful once they make the decision to return or relocate to Iowa. Perhaps most significant among this package are proposals to provide tax incentives to military benefits. We are considering an exemption to state income tax for military pension benefits. While my preference would ideally be a broader exemption for all pension and retirement benefits, this is a great first step to help incentivize retirees to stay in Iowa. The House is also working to exempt survivor benefits from state income tax well. Many military retirees obtain specific professional training during their service, and we are working to provide ways to credit that training toward professional licensure back home in Iowa. We are moving forward with legislation that directs Iowa’s occupational licensing boards to adopt rules allowing credit for military training and experience in the licensing process.Other important pieces of this year’s veterans legislative agenda are allowing private sector employers to grant a preference in hiring and promoting veterans, providing for the elimination fees associated with military service special license plates and work on reporting by colleges and universities on credits given for military experience. I am very pleased to continue working on this agenda in the House. Not only should we work to reward our military veterans for their service to our country, we should make it easier for them to quickly and effectively integrate back into the Iowa workforce. This is the right thing to do for our veterans and our state as a whole.